Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Dr Manjula Chellur extolled the virtues of legal aid services, and said that much like other social causes, only people with a strong social commitment should dare to venture into this field.
the goan I networkrPANAJIrrThe Chief Justice was speaking at a function organised to inaugurate Legal Assistance Establishment at High Court of Bombay at Goa and at Bombay, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu and Symposium on role of PLVs and Lawyers under Legal Aid programme held at NIO Auditorium, Dona Paula. r“People associated with Legal Aid Services should have strong social commitment, so that purpose of providing legal assistance to poor and needy people can be served in its true sense.” r“If lawyers and para legal volunteers engaged in legal aid service are not serious with the cases they are handling, then poor legal service will be imparted to people who are in need of it. Legal Aid Service System is not a platform for advocates to earn money. This system needs people who have social responsibilities and commitment to work for society without any expectations of monetary benefits,” Dr Chellur said. rDr Chellur who is also a Patron-in-Chief of Maharashtra State legal services Authority and Goa State Legal Service Authority delved upon lacunae prevailing in the legal aid service system which hampers the free and fair delivery of justice to needy people. rThe Chief Justice also urged established advocates engaged in private practice to offer their service to legal aid service authorities as per their availability so that quality service can be provided to legally disabled people.r She appreciated the efforts taken by Goa State Legal Service Authorities to run the system of free legal services in the Goa. rJudge, High Court of Bombay and Executive Chairman of Maharashtra State Legal Service Authority Justice V K Tahilramani stressed upon proper mechanism to be placed in legal aid service to improve the justice delivery system. r“Citizens inability to access the courts is bound to denial of justice to them. Hence, there has to be easy, fair and affordable mechanism which litigants can opt for and get the justice. Legal assistance establishments can play instrumental role in providing relief to legally disabled people,” Tahilramani further said. rJudge, High Court of Bombay at Goa and Executive chairman of Goa State legal Service Authority Justice F M Reis delivered the welcome address. Judge, High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Aurangabad bench and Chairman of High Court Legal Services Sub-Committee Justice R M Borde, Advocate General of Goa Dattaprasad Lawande, President of High Court Bar Association M B D’Costa were present for the inaugural function. rA day-long Symposium on role of PLVs (Para Legal Volunteers) and lawyers under legal aid programme was held after the post inaugural function, which was presided by Judge, High Court of Judicature at Bombay and Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, Mumbai Justice A S Oka, Judge, High Court of Judicature at Bombay Nagpur Bench and Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee, Nagpur Justice B P Dharmadhikari.
